Lung cancer and immunotherapy: a real-life experience from second line and beyond

Future Oncol. 2019 Sep;15(26):3025-3032. doi: 10.2217/fon-2019-0144. Epub 2019 Aug 19.

Abstract

Aim: This study assessed the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents in real life when used in second line or beyond. Materials & methods: Patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer progressing after standard chemotherapy and receiving immunotherapy in the second line or beyond were included. Results: One hundred and ten patients were included with PD-L1 expression above 50%, between 1-49 and <1% in 38.6, 27.3 and 34.1% of patients, respectively. Checkpoint inhibitors were used as second, third and fourth line in 74.7, 21.8 and 3.5%, respectively. Partial response was observed in 25.6% of patients. Median progression-free survival was 4 months and median overall survival was 8.1 months. Conclusion: Immunotherapies are emerging as important tools in the oncologic field with good responses in real-life practice.

Keywords: checkpoint inhibitors; experience; immunotherapy; lung cancer; non-small-cell lung cancer; real life; real-world; second line.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy* / adverse effects
  • Immunotherapy* / methods
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Retreatment
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD274 protein, human